Man City boss Pep Guardiola expresses frustration over Premier League scheduling before Champions League matches, citing financial contributions and stating, “We pay a lot of money, shut up!”
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has elaborated on his frustrations with the Premier League regarding the scheduling of matches during Champions League weeks.
Guardiola laments fixture congestion
He highlighted the uniqueness of the situation, emphasizing that no other country requires its teams to play on a Sunday when they have European action on the following Wednesday.
Despite City’s successful performance against the Danish side with a 3-1 victory, securing a 6-2 aggregate scoreline, Guardiola persisted in expressing discontent with the scheduling after the match.
What Pep Guardiola said
Pep Guardiola implemented seven changes to his lineup against Copenhagen after the 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
Despite a crucial Premier League title showdown at Liverpool on Sunday, Guardiola denied resting players for the Anfield trip, asserting his serious approach to the second leg against Copenhagen.
Guardiola plans new approach
He explained, “I needed fresh legs; I knew how tired my players were.” Guardiola also noted the variation in scheduling in different countries, emphasizing the necessity for players who could endure matches of high intensity.
Manchester City will discover their next opponents in the Champions League quarter-final draw scheduled for March 15. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain have also qualified for the next round, while the remaining four ties will be played next week.
